How does community-supported agriculture (CSA) enhance energy efficiency in local food production?

Community‑supported agriculture (CSA) is a partnership where local residents buy shares of a farm’s harvest before the growing season begins, so the farmer knows exactly how much produce to grow and who will receive it. Because the farmer has a guaranteed market, they can plant only what will be sold, avoiding the waste and extra energy that come with over‑production and later storage or disposal. The shares are usually delivered to the community by bike, carpool, or shared van, cutting the miles needed to transport food from distant farms. For example, a CSA in a small town might deliver baskets of tomatoes and lettuce to members’ homes every week, eliminating the need for long‑haul trucking and the refrigeration energy that would be required if the produce had to travel across the country. This close‑knit system therefore saves energy by reducing transportation, storage, and waste, making local food production more efficient overall.